Shank stiffener unit



Dec 5, 1939 ,w. H. NUTT 2,182,033

SHANK STIFFENER UNIT Filed Jan. 20, 1939 m /5 22 F1g4 25 I l 1 I @50 Patented Dec. 5, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SHANK STIFFENER UN IT William H. Nutt, Beverly,

United Shoe Machinery Corporation,

-Mass., assignor to Borough of Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 20, 1939, Serial No. 251,931

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shank stiffener units. The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a shank stiffener unit or combination which consists of a heel and shank reinforcing piece, of fiberboard or similar material, and a metallic shank stiffener, and which is especially adapted to be secured to an insole to provide a reinforced insole unit.

* One objection to the use of shank stiffener units of the type above referred to in the manufacture of reinforced insole units is that the expense of making the shank stiffener units has been considerably increased by the necessity of employing jigs or gaging devices in order to locate the stiffener with relation to the reinforcing piece so that when the stiffener unit is applied to an insole the metallic shank stiffener will be accurately located in the proper relation to the insole.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shank stiffener unit which may be easily and quickly assembled by unskilled help without the use of costly jigs or gaging devices. A further object of the invention is to provide a shank stiffener unit havingheel attaching means associated therewith.

Accordingly, the invention provides a shank stiffener unit comprising a reinforcing piece having an opening in its heelportion and having at its forward end a notch from one side of which a tab extends inwardly, partially closing said notch, and a shank stiffener extending forwardly through the opening in said heel portion and projecting through the opening between said tab and the rearward edge of said notch. Alternatively, somewhat smaller tabs may be provided on both sides of the notch in the reinforcing piece. Another feature of the invention comprises providing on both sides of the heel end of the stiffener downwardly turned flanges which extend through the opening in the heel end of the reinforcing piece adapted to be inserted into diverging slots in a wood heel, thus fastening the heel to the shoe.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the reinforcing piece;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the reinforcing piece with the stiffener inserted therein;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section along the line III--III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section along the line IVIV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig; 6 is a perspective view of the stiffener illustrated in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a heel, a portion being broken away toshow how the flanges on the stiffener are used to attach the heel. 5

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows the reinforcing piece It] cut outfrom a sheet of stiffening material such as fiberboard, leatherboard or the like. The reinforcing piece is shaped in edge contour susbtantially like that of the shank and heel portions of an insole to which it is to be secured. Preferably, the reinforcing piece is long enough to reach approximately to the break line of the shoe in which it is to be used. Substantially in the center of the heel portion l2 an open- 15 ing I4 is made to receive the heel end of the stiffener l6. This opening I4 is slightly longer than the width of the stiffener I6, and slightly wider than the stiffener is thick, so that the stiffener will fit into it snugly.

In the forward end of the reinforcing piece a notch I8 is cut out which is preferably just wide enough to accommodate the stiffener Hi. It is desirable that the rearward side 20 of the notch I8 be straight so that the stiffener I6 will lie closely against it. From one of the sides 22 of the forward end of the reinforcing piece ill a tab 24 extends inwardly, partially closing the notch so that an L-shaped opening is left at the forward end of the reinforcing piece. If desired, a slii 25 may be provided, for a purpose later to be explained, whichextends from the rear side of the notch for a short distance toward the heel end of the reinforcing piece. 7

The stiffener l6 used in connection with the reinforcing piece is a flat strip of some material, preferably metal, which has substantial resistance to bending. It is offset at its heel end 28 so that when inserted in the opening I4 it may be brought fiat against the surface of the reinforcing piece If]. Similarly the forward end 30 of the stiffener I6 is offset. If desired, the forward end 30 of the stiffener [6 may be beveled so that it will not cause an irregularity on the outsole.

To assemble the unit, the heel end 28 of the shank stiffener i6 is inserted in the opening M of the reinforcing piece Ill. The side 23 of the forward end of the reinforcing piece is then depressed sufficiently so that the stiffener may be slipped in between the rear edge 20 of the notch l8 and the tab 24-, the slit 26 aiding in making it possible to depress the side 23 sufficiently to slip the stiffener 16 into the notch. By the use of this notch and the tab the stiffener may be 10- cated with relation to the reinforcing piece very simply, it being necessary only to locate the opening l4 and the notch 58 properly when cutting out the reinforcing piece. Expensive jigs and gages, the use of which requires the employment of skilled help to assemble the reinforcing unit, are not necessary.

Alternatively, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the forward end of the reinforcing piece 32 may be cut with somewhat shorter tabs 36 on both sides of the notch 3%, thus forming a T-shaped opening. In this case the stiffener is inserted in the opening 38 of the reinforcing piece 32 and its forward end is forced downwardly between the tabs 36 and into the notch 3d a sufficient distance so that the tabs can spring back to their normal location, thus holding the stiffener M tightly in place between the rear edge 52 of the notch 34 and the tabs 36.

As illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, the shank stiffener is provided at its heel end with means for attaching a wood heel to a shoe. At either side of the heel end of the shank stiffener 412 are provided flanges M which are bent downwardly so as to be substantially at right angles with the main portion of the stiffener. In order to prevent these flanges M from working loose from the heel 46 projections 28 are provided on sides of the flanges, which preferably are of such a nature that they will not interfere with the driving of the flanges into the slots provided to receive them but will prevent their withdrawal. As illustrated, the projections =38 extend outwardly from the sides of the flanges 34 but they may extend inwardly therefrom. The heel M; is provided with diverging slots if spaced apart at their upper limits a distance approximately equal to the width of the shank stiffener. When the flanges M are driven into the slots 47 the flanges are forced apart, thereby securing the heel in position. The projections 38 aid in obtaining a strong fastening. If desired, a hole 5B may be made in the heel end of the stiffener ii? to receive a wood heel attaching screw 52 which may be inserted after the heel is attached by means of the flanges, in order to hold the heel somewhat more securely.

Applicant has thus provided a new, inexpensive, and easily assembled shank reinforcing unit, which does not require the use of gages or jigs in the assembly of its parts, and which is provided with heel attaching means, by which a heel may be located and fastened in proper relation to the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. A shank reinforcing unit comprising a reinforcing piece having in its forward end a notch from one side of which a tab extends inwardly, and a shank stiffener extending from the heel portion of said reinforcing piece forwardly between said tab and the rear side of said notch.

2. A shank reinforcing unit comprising a reinforcing piece having in its forward end a notch from one side of which a tab extends inwardly and havingan opening in its heelportion, and a shank stiffener extending forwardly from said opening and inserted from the side between said tab and the rear side of said notch.

3. A shank reinforcing unit comprising a reinforcing piece having in its forward end a notch from both sides of which tabs extend inwardly and having an opening in its heel portion, and a shank stiffener extending through said opening and between said tabs and the rearward side of said notch.

4. A shank reinforcing unit comprising a reinforcing piece having in its forward end a notch from'both sides of which. tabs extend inwardly and from which a slit extendsrearwardly, said reinforcing piece having an opening in its heel portion, and a shank stiffener extending through said opening and between said tabsand the rearward side of said notch 5. A shank reinforcing unit comprising a reinforcing piece having an opening in its heel portion and having at both sides of its forward end forwardly extending projections from the side of one of whiohprojections atab extends inwardly, and a shankstiifener the heel end of which is adapted to be inserted in the opening in the heel portion of said stiffener, and theforward end of which is adapted to be inserted from the side between said tab and-the rearward side of said notch. I

6. A shank reinforcing unit comprising a reinforcing piece having at its forward end a notch fromone side of which a tab extends inwardly and having an opening in its heel portion, and a shankstiifener having on each sideof its heel end a downwardly turned-flange, said stiffener extending through said opening forwardly between said tab and the rearward side of said notch.

7. A shank reinforcing unitcomprising a re- 1 inforcing piece having at its forward, end a notch from bothsides of which'tabs extend inwardly and fromwhich a slit extends 'rearwardly, said reinforcing piece havingan opening in its heel portion, and a shank stiffener having on each side of its heel end a downwardly turned flange,

ward side of said notch,

.. WILLIAM H.

, said stiifener extending, fromsaid opening in said reinforcing piece between said tabsand the rear- 

